When I say Bedford School was in my blood, I talk almost literally. I was born in the Bedford Hospital North Wing and at the time my parents were still living in a small flat above the old Music School. My father had taken up a position at the school in 1947 as the first Art Master and remained there until 1970. So many of my earliest memories were through the eyes of my parents and the many friends they had connected with the school. “Agah” Hodges, who had been wounded in the 1st World War and wrote a book “Memoirs of an Old Balloonatic” based on those experiences. Harry McKay, who was an incredible pianist who could play almost anything by ear from what I recall, and perhaps most of all, Cyril Rhodes-Harrison who was a dear friend of my father and for whom my father designed and created many amazing sets for the school plays that “Rhodes” produced. That said, the most amazing achievement of that dear man was as my form master in V1 and motivating me to get decent “O” Levels!
The other master with whom my father had a special relationship was David Money for whom he illustrated numerous books over the years. David later became a rival on the cricket pitch when I was in the school 1st XI – a difficult man to get out. But the incident I most remember with David was in the summer I left school and I was playing in a representative cricket match at the Somerset County Ground in Taunton. David took a touring team to that area, the South Oxfordshire Amateurs, and asked if I would be interested in joining them. He was a man that I found a little intimidating, to be honest, but I accepted the invitation. He walked into the hotel where I was staying, and I greeted him in normal manner. “Good morning, Mr. Money. Nice to see you Sir.” “It’s David – you have left school now.” It was a very nice touch that I recall to this day.
The Inly 1957: 1-2A